The Houston Astros could go plenty of directions when they come on the clock for the 2023 MLB Draft next month in Seattle.
Baseball America produced its third version of the mock about a month out from the MLB Draft, which is set for July 9-11.
The publication’s pick for the Astros was a multi-position player, Ralphy Velazquez out of Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School.
Velazquez can play both catcher and first base. Per Baseball America:
The Astros also sound like one of the teams who are on (Samuel) Stafura, but if the Yankees like him as much as we think, he’s not getting here. Velazquez is another player linked to the Astros, and he has some of the most exciting hit and power tools in the prep class, even if he’s a risk to move off of catcher.
According to Perfectgame.org, the left-handed hitting Velazquez played in the 2022 All-America Classic Game and played as a select festival player in Under-13 and Under-14.
The Astros have a Top 5 prospect at catcher in Korey Lee, who is at Triple-A Sugar Land and could a projected call-up this year, per MLB.com. Lee is the only Top 30 catcher in the system.
The Astros also have a catcher/first base combo in their Top 30 in Miguel Palma, who is with the Astros’ High Class-A affiliate and projects as a 2025 call-up to the Majors.
There is also Joey Loperfido, a former Duke standout who can play outfield, first base and second base and is currently with Double-A Corpus Christi. He’s projected as a 2024 call-up.
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